Facebook: Obama Speechwriter Parties With Clinton Cutout

The Washington Post reports that Jon Favreau, chief speechwriter for President-elect Barack Obama, was caught partying with a cardboard cutout of Hillary Clinton in some interesting Facebook photos.

Asked about the photos, Favreau, who was recently appointed director of speechwriting for the White House, declined comment. A transition official said that Favreau had "reached out to Senator Clinton to offer an apology."

The Post adds that Clinton's team is taking the matter lightly. "Senator Clinton is pleased to learn of Jon's obvious interest in the State Department, and is currently reviewing his application," said Clinton senior adviser Philippe Reines.

Comments

[hippieCy08]

s-t-u-p-i-d of him, but they don't call us the facebook generation for nothing. If you are remotely famous or linked to a public figure, try not to put or allow your friends 2 put up dumb pictures like these. I'm sure its not as important as some of the hysteria out of the PUMA & right wing Obama-haters making it out to be.

[curiousasheck]

Question No. 58 in the transition team vetting document for the Obama White House asks that applicants: "Please provide the URL address of any websites that feature you in either a personal or professional capacity (e.g. Facebook, My Space, etc.)"

Question No. 63 asks that applicants "please provide any other information ... that could ... be a possible source of embarrassment to you, your family, or the President-­Elect."

"I don't behave professionally on my time off"

[Active]

Yeah. Sexism is just a bunch of "hysteria". I'm sure if Mark Penn grabbed the breast of a Michelle Obama cardboard cut-out there would be completely outrage.

I think its important that as supporters of Obama, we should all be able to criticize his staff and the missteps of those in his camp. To simply excuse it is just ridiculous.

[DemNY]

hippieCY08:

You are so transparent. It isn't as important because it is about HRC.

Nice spin. Now go back to sleep.

[curiousasheck]

I doubt Fav has a very promising career with the State Department at this point.

Unless Hillary needs an errand boy.

[valkyrie607]

I thought Hillary's comeback was brilliant.

[rdiaz921]

Not anymore of a 'winner" than you.

[curiousasheck]

Who's the punk in the baseball cap?

Noticed his face is blocked out on the CNN coverage pic.

What a winner

[nellie]

How could someone who contributes to such smart speeches be dumb enough to post this photo on facebook? That's my take.

[curiousasheck]

He's not the first marketing wordsmith to be an idiot.

[morefromLA]

That's why he's a speechwriter and not a politician.

[Angelic11]

he didn't post it; his bud did....sho­uld say ex-bud

[DemNY]

He obviously isn't too bright.

[lynninny]

Yeah, you would think someone would not allow alcohol and a camera in the same evening.

[hangdogit]

The above story is idiotically trivial -- but not much more so than the Biden Caucus headline!

Hey, the economy is in free-fall -- aren't there some more important stories or is it just a slow news day?

[LittlePurpleUSA]

Oh noes! I hope this doesn't cost Obama the nomination for Democratic candidate against John McCa ... oh wait.

[killmenow]

Can anyone explain to me why there is so much outrage over a cardboard cutout, but there was never the slightest.­..THE SLIGHTEST.­.. outrage towards Justin Timberlake, who reached across Janet Jackson's chest and ripped at her clothing as part of a choreographed dance routine televised all over the world???

It was only... ONLY... Janet Jackson who got all of the flack... for having her breast exposed!

A violent sexual assault against a woman was part of a choreographed dance routine at the Super Bowl, yet it was only... ONLY... the breast that was the issue for absolutely everyone everywhere. No one noticed that even if there wasn't a "wardrobe malfunction," it still would have represented a sexual assault against a woman. No one took the slightest notice of that. Why did Justin Timberlake take part in that choreography? Why did anyone think that would have been cool, even without a "malfunction"??

Groping a cardboard cutout that was a lame joke in the moment... not planned, not choreograp­hed... is simply not an issue unless you are a very disturbed person who sees sexism, assaults, and inferred messages in just about everything.

So please... get upset about actual, deliberate depictions of sexual assaults, whether real or not, against real women, not CARDBOARD, for God's sake!!!!

[madinirose]

Hold up! I have to disagree with you here.

Now, Janet Jackson got most of the flack for what happened during the 2004 Superbowl. Career-wise, Jackson still has not completely recovered from it. Meanwhile, Justin Timberlake gets out of the situation practically unscathed.

However, I really don't think that the choreography depicted a sexual assault. It was a consensual act (that went terribly wrong). In the heat of passion, people can become little more rushed, not as gentle, and little more aggressive. The choreography was suppose to depict that. Unfortunately, the "wardrobe malfunction" messed everything up.

I've been a Jackson fan for over 20 years. I've seen numerous concerts and watched hours of her dance routines. In all of those years, I have never seen her depict an act of violence against women positively. She actually has a song called "What About?" where she sings against domestic violence. Granted, some of Janet's songs have strong S&M elements ("Rope Burn" and "Discipline"). You may still think S&M is unacceptable, but at the end of the day; proper S&M is consensual. Janet has always depicted this as something between two consenting adults.

I also agree that groping a cardboard cutout is a lame joke. Besides, the most important person (or entity) here is Hilary Clinton and her camp. If they are taking this lightly, then what? "What About" the women suffering from real sexual violence? As Janet sings, "What about that? What about that?"

[killmenow]

OK, I read your reply. Thanks. I don't think Timberlake ripping off a piece of clothing was appropriate choreography in that context. One cannot consent to a sudden, unexpected act like reaching over and ripping at your clothing. It's only consensual that it was a choreographed routine, but they certainly weren't depicting that. They were playing roles, and the roles they were playing were inappropriate for that venue, and everyone should have been offended by that, not by the wardrobe malfunction. The FCC fine, given that they were and are trying to assert that fine, should have been for Timberlake's ripping at her clothing, not for the unexpected (supposedly) exposure of.. horrors!..­. a naked breast.

[Angelic11]

Campbell Brown's trying to start some $hit:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/05/campbell.brown.clinton/index.html?iref=newssearch

This woman is starting to irk me; trying to build a career on complaining. geez

[RadhaColalurver]

Isn't that what KO does too?... it's what partisans do actually.

[Angelic11]

who is KO?

[blkbtrfly1]

Get over it PUMAs. Your girl's FREAKING SoS!

[curiousasheck]

No no no no no we're not letting this bullsh*t slide.

We've been through 8 years of letting people slide in Washington D.C. enough is enough.

Why should this kind of activity-symbolism be accepted as"normal behavior "?

Or "funny"?

You want to enlighten the American Voters on that?

[jcwtts1]

First let me say all jokes aren't funny. They were angry that Hillary stayed in the race three months longer than she was viable, they were angry that she was talking about people killing Obama as a reason for staying in the race. The guy is grabbing her breast, which I assume is the sexist part of your argument. Poor taste. Fact of life, people with poor taste can still do their jobs. Hillary isn't made of glass, and frankly, with the vitriolic racist stuff coming out of her campaign and Obama willing to forgive and forget, you better believe she and you are going to take it. The election is over. I bet if they were using her as a dart board you would talk about violence against women. Don't you get it, this is the ultimate compliment, they defaced her cardboard cut out just like the would anyone else... aint equality grand.

J

[wendy31]

Well put.

[chewie2008]

Well,H.ill­ary seems to have a sense of humor unlike yourself.Y­ou sure you`re offended because of this pic,because the way you`re throwing h.issy fits it seems there might be something else you have a problem with.

[killmenow]

..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­....

I seriously think that there is something wrong with every single person who takes offense and sees an outrage in this stupid photo of two guys acting silly beside a CARDBOARD CUTOUT!!!!

Party pictures, silly pictures, and awkward photos from the internet are a standard, typical way of life now. If we are going to eliminate any talent, dedication and proven reputation that has worked for a cause because of every stupid photo that might appear on the internet, especially of guys "groping" a CARDBOARD CUTOUT, then good luck getting effective and positive change in American government.

I think some of these people would be happier having guys like John Ashcroft running everything. They may be boobs, but they don't even pretend to grope boobs, let alone let them be seen publicly on a statue or a CARDBOARD CUTOUT(!), so - yeah, let's just only go with guys like John Ashcroft in government.
..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­.......

[Big0725]

I don't have a problem with what they did, just with what they did it with and what they were wearing.

If you want to be smarmy little dicks, do it without the object of some of your speeches and a likeness of the Secretary of State.

And take off the Obama Staff shirt. I'm sure that your employer doesn't condone your behavior.

[karela]

She wasn't on her way to being the SOS then. This was months ago, during the campaign, at a late night let off the steam party with the guys. And it wasn't the guys in the picture who put it on Face Book. It was somebody else who had been there. I thought Clinton handled it just fine. A laugh and a reminder that the guy has an application on her desk because he wants to work in the State Department.

[Oldbuck]

This is totally media BS they have to start a stir when there is none. I think Hillary realizes that these guys are having a few brews letting off a little steam. Hillary is a pretty good sport and probably would just laugh.

[horsey]

they made a pretty good joke when they mentioned his interest in the state dept. and that they were reviewing his application.

[ReportThis]

I agree. Very funny response.

[timewaster2dcore]

Come on!! These guys were having fun at a party!! These are the kinds of childish acts you get in parties, especially one that involves "liquor". These guys seemed "wasted". I was shocked when Campbell Brown was "crying" about this on CNN last night. People in the media just want to create some friction between Barack and Hillary, so so so fuc*ing sad.

[NoDubya]

Some of you guys really need to take the stick out of your ass. It's a joke. Relax.

[LynndaMaree]

Yeah, just like Mr. Bill*Clinton had to take his stick out of Monica's mouth. hee hee hee Hillary didn't seem to mind that.